I nearly fell off my chair when I read the article about what's happening to shellfish off the coast of California (Page 1A, April 30). A critically important ocean food source, pteropods, are suffering from ocean acidification -- their shells dissolving in CO²-infused seawater. A third of all carbon dioxide emitted by humans is absorbed by the oceans, making the water corrosive to these tiny creatures at the base of the food chain, as well as to many other species of shellfish.

The climate's red flags are getting bigger and redder. We, along with the oceans, are running out of time. Join me and Citizens' Climate Lobby in urging our U.S. senators and representatives to support a carbon tax on fossil fuels at their source. We must work together now to reduce the burning of fossil fuels and reduce CO² emissions before it's too late to turn the tide.

Michael Segor

San Luis Obispo

What are other effects from pteropod loss?

Thank you for running the story on ocean acidification (Page 1A, April 30). The only piece I found missing was the percentage of sea life that would likely be decreased by the loss of the pteropods. I'm sure it is not insignificant. The lack of action, and denial, at the federal level indicates to me that there are some serious problems in the control of the country.

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Ted Rees

Mountain View

A wish for lasting peace for Vietnam

On April 30, we commemorated the 39th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

The Vietnam War, once referred to as "The Vietnam Quagmire," resulted in over 58,000 American soldiers killed and millions of Vietnamese soldiers killed. Untold millions of Vietnamese civilians and children perished during the war. The defoliant Agent Orange caused human deformities and cancers that will linger for generations.

Vietnamese call the end of the war Giai Phong (Liberation), Ngay Thong Nhat (Reunification), Mat Nuoc (Loss of country). Some Vietnamese-Americans now call it Thang Tu Den (Black April), still refusing to accept the reality of the war's end almost four decades ago.

Regardless of one's perspective regarding the end of the Vietnam War, a major challenge to Vietnam's security today has been the conflicts over China's territorial claims over the Spratly Islands, an oil and gas rich region.

Chuc Mung Vietnam Hoa Binh Mai Mai. May Vietnam Enjoy Lasting Peace.

Anh Lê

San Francisco

Dad infuriated by UC's admission trends

I am probably not the only father of a college applicant, lifetime California resident and taxpayer, who was infuriated to learn of the decrease in admissions of in-state applicants to the UC system. After paying state taxes for over 35 years I now find that when it is time for my daughter to attend college her chances of acceptance are lower than before because she is a resident of this state! Well, at least California can boast of a large (I was going to say healthy, but that's not true either) prison population. I guess that's something.

Richard Gray

Saratoga

Death penalty system cries for mercy

The botched executions in Oklahoma and Ohio; the human experimentation going on with unproven drugs of unknown origin; the new Academy of Sciences study concluding that 4 percent of death row inmates are innocent; the racial bias of the justice system; the uneven application of the death penalty across jurisdictions; the extraordinary cost, the lack of evidence of any deterrent effect; the appeal to our basest instincts for revenge; the universal condemnation of all other developed nations: how many more reasons do we need to put an end to the death penalty in this country? Lord, have mercy.

Rev. Dr. Rebecca Irelan

Willow Glen United Methodist Church

American flag protest places children at risk

On Cinco de Mayo, a group of so called patriots will protest at Morgan Hill's Live Oak High a court ruling supporting the school in de-escalating potential violence by banning four students from wearing T-shirts of the American flag.

The protesting group that is placing our children at continued risk are no patriots. It is a small inauspicious group, surrounded by fear and intolerance using misplaced ideology under the shield of the American flag.

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of pride, and culture. To clarify, this is an ethnic population that continues to be oppressed and exploited. It represents a struggle for recognition and self-empowerment. It has become a symbol of what is possible when you think all hope is lost. It is a celebration of an emerging people of color and if we are Americans, we celebrate with them and all others alike.